RB Leipzig vs Mainz
Two European hopefuls will square off this Saturday, as RB Leipzig host Mainz at the Red Bull Arena during the 24th matchday of the 2024-25 Bundesliga campaign. Both sides badly need this win since it’ll give them the valuable points they need. Mainz are above RB Leipzig in the German top-flight table, sitting in fifth place. However, both teams are level at 38 points apiece, and a six-goal difference only separates these two sides.
The visitors are on a two-game winning streak after beating FC St. Pauli last weekend. Meanwhile, the hosts are winless in six of their previous seven league matches, though they’re confident heading into this match following their 1-0 DFB-Pokal victory over VfL Wolfsburg last night.
This is one of the top matches to watch this weekend, and SBOTOP is here for the match preview.
Talking Points
Sesko finding his groove at RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig have an interesting conundrum about Benjamin Sesko, as they might be forced to sell him this summer. If the Red Bulls, sixth in the table, fail to qualify for the Champions League next season, they will have to part ways with several key players like Sesko to raise funds to make up for the financial shortfall.
Sesko has dealt with injuries in the past few seasons, but he has recovered and is now the Red Bulls’ top scorer with 10 league goals and four assists. The 21-year-old Slovenian international has found the back of the net in three of his last four appearances across all competitions, including the marginal goal to help his team advance to the DFB-Pokal semi-final. RB Leipzig will need more from him against the 05ers this Saturday.
He won’t have to worry about having attacking support, as Sesko will be flanked by Lois Openda and Xavi Simons, who have 12 league goals and nine assists combined. And believe it or not, Willi Orban is the team’s joint-third leading scorer with five league goals despite being a centre-back.
Zentner is Mainz’s unsung hero
Mainz are punching above their weight because they boast one of the top defences in the German top-flight this season. They’ve only conceded 24 goals – good for the second-best mark behind table leaders Bayern Munich (19 goals).
Robin Zentner deserves credit for the 05ers’ defensive solidity. The 30-year-old goalkeeper has saved 77 shots – the second-highest tally in the league – and has been recording a league-best goalkeeper efficiency of +8.0. Don’t be surprised if he gets a call-up to the German national team in the next international break.
The 05ers have also won the third-most aerial duels (511), and they’re sixth in the league in sprints (5,426) and intensive runs (17,223), highlighting head coach Bo Henriksen’s workhorse ethos he wants his team to embody.
History
RB Leipzig defeated Mainz earlier this season, winning 2-0 at the MEWA Arena last October, as Xavi Simons and Willi Orban found the back of the net during the first half. This was Mainz’s first loss in their previous five meetings with RB Leipzig (W2, D2).
Marco Rose’s men aim to secure a league double over the 05ers for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign. However, they have failed to score in their last two games against Mainz at the Red Bull Arena.
RB Leipzig are unbeaten after the first six matches in the second half of the season (W1, D5) – a new club record in the German top-flight. However, they have established a new negative club record with only eight points from these six matches.
38 points from the first 23 matchdays is Mainz’s best tally at this juncture of a Bundesliga campaign. The 05ers are in fifth place going into a match in the second half of a season for the first time since matchday 33 of 2015-16.
Betting Tip
The Bundesliga 2025 odds predict the hosts to complete a league double over the visitors this Saturday. RB Leipzig are 1.94 favourites to win, whereas Mainz are 3.52 underdogs, and a draw is at 3.32 in the 1X2 market. Despite Mainz being in better form, RB Leipzig have the stronger roster on paper, hence our bet above.
Both teams can create new Bundesliga 2025 highlights, but RB Leipzig will likely score more goals. Besides our recommended bet, bettors can also go for alternatives like Total Goal 2-3 at 2.00, Over 2.50 at 1.78, and Over 2.75 at 2.03. Furthermore, a Correct Score of 2-0 in favour of RB Leipzig – the result of their most recent league encounter – is priced at 9.60 your bet.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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